U.S. patent application number 13/203592 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-01 for top-hinged door structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Kosuke Ebina, Yoshihiro Iwano.
Application Number | 20120272580 13/203592 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43991337 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120272580 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Iwano; Yoshihiro ; et
al. |
November 1, 2012 |
TOP-HINGED DOOR STRUCTURE
Abstract
At a back door structure, a back door, that is rotatably
supported at a rear roof header via a pair of door hinges, rotates
around hinge shafts and opens and closes a rear opening portion.
The back door is held in a fully open posture that opens the rear
opening portion, by a single damper that is provided only at a
right side with respect to the rear opening portion. In the back
door structure a fit posture of the back door is corrected due to a
vertical position of a mounting surface of the door hinge at the
right side being set at an upper side with respect to a mounting
surface of the door hinge at a left side in a state of not
supporting the back door.
Inventors: |
Iwano; Yoshihiro;
(Toyota-shi, JP) ; Ebina; Kosuke; (Toyota-shi,
JP) |
Assignee: |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Toyota-shi, Aichi
JP
|
Family ID: |
43991337 |
Appl. No.: |
13/203592 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
November 16, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2009/069453 |
371 Date: |
August 26, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
49/399 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05D 5/043 20130101;
E05Y 2900/546 20130101; E05D 5/062 20130101; E05F 5/022 20130101;
E05Y 2201/416 20130101; E05F 1/1091 20130101; B60J 5/101
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
49/399 |
International
Class: |
B60J 5/12 20060101
B60J005/12; E05F 5/02 20060101 E05F005/02 |
Claims
1. A top-hinged door structure comprising: a pair of hinges that
are provided at a vehicle body, so as to be apart in a horizontal
direction, at an upper side in a vehicle vertical direction with
respect to an opening portion formed in the vehicle body; a door
that is supported at the vehicle body by the pair of hinges, and
that opens and closes the opening portion by rotating with hinge
shafts of the hinges being fulcra; a door holding mechanism that is
provided between the door and the vehicle body at one end side of
the door in the horizontal direction, that produces resistance
force against self-weight of the door and maintains a posture in
which the door fully opens the opening portion, and that, due to
load exceeding the resistance force, permits the door being moved
in a direction of closing the opening portion; and a door
supporting structure that is structured such that, in a state of
not supporting the door, one hinge shaft of one hinge that is
positioned at a side at which the door holding mechanism is set
among the pair of hinges, is positioned further toward an upper
side in the vehicle vertical direction than the other hinge shaft
of the other hinge.
2. The top-hinged door structure of claim 1, wherein the door
supporting structure is structured such that, in the state of not
supporting the door, a mounting surface to which the hinge at the
vehicle body is mounted is positioned further toward the upper side
in the vehicle vertical direction at one hinge side that is
positioned at the side at which the door holding structure is set,
than at the other hinge side.
3. A top-hinged door structure comprising: a pair of hinges that
are provided at a vehicle body, so as to be apart in a horizontal
direction, at an upper side in a vehicle vertical direction with
respect to an opening portion formed in the vehicle body; a door
that is supported at the vehicle body by the pair of hinges, and
that opens and closes the opening portion by rotating with hinge
shafts of the hinges being fulcra; a door holding mechanism that is
provided between the door and the vehicle body at one end side of
the door in the horizontal direction, and that produces resistance
force against self-weight of the door and maintains a posture in
which the door fully opens the opening portion, and that, due to
load exceeding the resistance force, permits the door being moved
in a direction of closing the opening portion; and a door
supporting structure that is structured such that supporting
reaction force, in the vehicle vertical direction, of a mounting
portion of one hinge that is positioned at a side at which the door
holding mechanism is set among the pair of hinges, is greater than
supporting reaction force, in the vehicle vertical direction, of a
mounting portion of the other hinge.
4. The top-hinged door structure of claim 3, wherein the door
supporting structure is structured such that, in the state of not
supporting the door, a mounting surface to which the hinge at the
vehicle body is mounted is positioned further toward the upper side
in the vehicle vertical direction at one hinge side that is
positioned at the side at which the door holding structure is set,
than at the other hinge side.
5. The top-hinged door structure of claim 2, wherein the respective
mounting surfaces are surfaces that face toward an upper side in
the vehicle vertical direction, and the pair of hinges are fixed to
the vehicle body by bolts that pass-through, in the vehicle
vertical direction, a vehicle body panel that has the mounting
surfaces.
6. The top-hinged door structure of claim 1, further comprising a
regulating member that is provided between the vehicle body and a
portion, at an opposite side in the horizontal direction of the
side at which the door holding structure is set, at a lower portion
of the door in the vehicle vertical direction, and that regulates
the door, that is in a posture of closing the opening portion,
being displaced in a direction of closing the opening portion with
respect to the vehicle body.
7. A top-hinged door structure comprising: a pair of hinges that
are provided at a vehicle body, so as to be apart in a horizontal
direction, at an upper side in a vehicle vertical direction with
respect to an opening portion formed in the vehicle body; a door
that is supported at the vehicle body by the pair of hinges, and
that opens and closes the opening portion by rotating with hinge
shafts of the hinges being fulcra; a door holding mechanism that is
provided between the door and the vehicle body at one end side of
the door in the horizontal direction, and that produces resistance
force against self-weight of the door and maintains a posture in
which the door fully opens the opening portion, and that, due to
load exceeding the resistance force, permits the door being moved
in a direction of closing the opening portion; and a regulating
member that is provided between the vehicle body and a portion, at
an opposite side in the horizontal direction of a side at which the
door holding structure is set, at a lower portion of the door in
the vehicle vertical direction, and that regulates the door, that
is in a posture of closing the opening portion, being displaced in
a direction of closing the opening portion with respect to the
vehicle body.
8. The top-hinged door structure of claim 6, wherein, in a state in
which the door closes the opening portion, the regulating member is
disposed so as to be elastically compressed between the door and
the vehicle body.
9. The top-hinged door structure of claim 1, wherein the door is
structured to have a window portion, and at least a portion of a
peripheral edge portion of the window portion is reinforced with
respect to load in the vehicle vertical direction.
10. The top-hinged door structure of claim 1, wherein the door
holding mechanism is structured by a vehicle body side member, that
is connected to a portion positioned at one end side in the
horizontal direction with respect to the opening portion at an
upper portion of the vehicle body, and a door side member, that is
connected to a same side as a connected side of the vehicle body
side member with respect to the opening portion at the door, the
vehicle body side member and the door side member being connected
so as to be able to extend and contract due to relative
displacement in a mutual longitudinal direction, and the door
holding mechanism is structured so as to generate assisting force
while extending when the door opens the opening portion, and so as
to generate the resistance force while shortening when the door
closes the opening portion.
11. The top-hinged door structure of claim 4, wherein the
respective mounting surfaces are surfaces that face toward an upper
side in the vehicle vertical direction, and the pair of hinges are
fixed to the vehicle body by bolts that pass-through, in the
vehicle vertical direction, a vehicle body panel that has the
mounting surfaces.
12. The top-hinged door structure of claim 3, further comprising a
regulating member that is provided between the vehicle body and a
portion, at an opposite side in the horizontal direction of the
side at which the door holding structure is set, at a lower portion
of the door in the vehicle vertical direction, and that regulates
the door, that is in a posture of closing the opening portion,
being displaced in a direction of closing the opening portion with
respect to the vehicle body.
13. The top-hinged door structure of claim 7, wherein, in a state
in which the door closes the opening portion, the regulating member
is disposed so as to be elastically compressed between the door and
the vehicle body.
14. The top-hinged door structure of claim 12, wherein, in a state
in which the door closes the opening portion, the regulating member
is disposed so as to be elastically compressed between the door and
the vehicle body.
15. The top-hinged door structure of claim 3, wherein the door is
structured to have a window portion, and at least a portion of a
peripheral edge portion of the window portion is reinforced with
respect to load in the vehicle vertical direction.
16. The top-hinged door structure of claim 7, wherein the door is
structured to have a window portion, and at least a portion of a
peripheral edge portion of the window portion is reinforced with
respect to load in the vehicle vertical direction.
17. The top-hinged door structure of claim 3, wherein the door
holding mechanism is structured by a vehicle body side member, that
is connected to a portion positioned at one end side in the
horizontal direction with respect to the opening portion at an
upper portion of the vehicle body, and a door side member, that is
connected to a same side as a connected side of the vehicle body
side member with respect to the opening portion at the door, the
vehicle body side member and the door side member being connected
so as to be able to extend and contract due to relative
displacement in a mutual longitudinal direction, and the door
holding mechanism is structured so as to generate assisting force
while extending when the door opens the opening portion, and so as
to generate the resistance force while shortening when the door
closes the opening portion.
18. The top-hinged door structure of claim 7, wherein the door
holding mechanism is structured by a vehicle body side member, that
is connected to a portion positioned at one end side in the
horizontal direction with respect to the opening portion at an
upper portion of the vehicle body, and a door side member, that is
connected to a same side as a connected side of the vehicle body
side member with respect to the opening portion at the door, the
vehicle body side member and the door side member being connected
so as to be able to extend and contract due to relative
displacement in a mutual longitudinal direction, and the door
holding mechanism is structured so as to generate assisting force
while extending when the door opens the opening portion, and so as
to generate the resistance force while shortening when the door
closes the opening portion.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a top-hinged door structure
that supports a door, that opens and closes an opening portion of a
vehicle body, by hinges that are provided at the upper side of the
opening portion.
BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY
[0002] Various contrivances such as, for example, carrying out
opening/closing operation smoothly and the like, for back doors are
known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
(JP-A) No. 2007-245747, JP-A No. 9-220934, JP-A No. 2003-291645,
JP-A No. 11-350827, and JP-A No. 8-324255).
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0003] However, with regard to a back door that is supported at a
vehicle body via hinges that are disposed at the upper side of a
vehicle body opening portion, when a member such as a damper or the
like for maintaining the door in a fully open posture is provided
at only one end side in the horizontal direction at the vehicle
body, there is room for improvement in fitting the door.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to obtain, in a
structure in which a door holding mechanism for maintaining a door
in a fully open posture is provided at only one end side in the
horizontal direction, a top-hinged door structure that can properly
assemble the door to the vehicle body.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] A top-hinged door structure relating to a first aspect of
the present invention has: a pair of hinges that are provided at
the vehicle body, so as to be apart in a horizontal direction, at
an upper side in a vehicle vertical direction with respect to an
opening portion formed in the vehicle body; a door that is
supported at the vehicle body by the pair of hinges, and that opens
and closes the opening portion by rotating with hinge shafts of the
hinges being fulcra; a door holding mechanism that is provided
between the door and the vehicle body at one end side of the door
in the horizontal direction, that produces resistance force against
self-weight of the door and maintains a posture in which the door
fully opens the opening portion, and that, due to load exceeding
the resistance force, permits the door being moved in a direction
of closing the opening portion; and a door supporting structure
that is structured such that, in a state of not supporting the
door, one hinge shaft of one hinge that is positioned at a side at
which the door holding mechanism is set among the pair of hinges,
is positioned further toward an upper side in the vehicle vertical
direction than the other hinge shaft of the other hinge.
[0006] In accordance with the above-described aspect, with regard
to the door that rotates with the hinge shafts as fulcra and opens
and closes the opening portion of the vehicle body, the posture of
fully opening the opening portion is maintained by the door holding
mechanism against the self-weight. When load in the closing
direction (toward the bottom of the vehicle) of a predetermined
value or more that exceeds this resistance force is applied to the
door, the door reaches a posture of closing the opening portion
against the resistance force of the door holding mechanism.
[0007] By the way, in a structure in which the door holding
mechanism is provided at only one end side in the horizontal
direction between the vehicle body and the door, due to the
reaction force of the door holding mechanism, it is easy for the
door to be rotated with respect to the vehicle body such that a
portion at the side at which the door holding mechanism at the door
is set is positioned at the lower side, in the vehicle vertical
direction, with respect to the opposite side.
[0008] Here, in the door supporting structure that structures the
top-hinged door structure of the above-described aspect, in a state
of not supporting the door, the hinge that is positioned at the
side at which the door holding mechanism is set among the pair of
hinges, is positioned further toward the upper side in the vehicle
vertical direction than the other hinge. Therefore, even if the
door is rotated as described above, positional offset in the
vehicle vertical direction can be kept small at the portion at the
side at which the door holding mechanism at the door is set, and at
the opposite side.
[0009] In this way, in the structure relating to the
above-described aspect, a door can be assembled properly to a
vehicle body in a structure in which a door holding mechanism for
maintaining the door in a fully open posture is provided at only
one end side in the horizontal direction.
[0010] In the above-described aspect, the door supporting structure
may be a structure that is structured such that, in the state of
not supporting the door, a mounting surface to which the hinge at
the vehicle body is mounted is positioned further toward the upper
side in the vehicle vertical direction at one hinge side that is
positioned at the side at which the door holding structure is set,
than at the other hinge side.
[0011] In accordance with the above-described aspect, while using
the pair of hinges in common, positional offset in the vehicle
vertical direction can be kept small at the portion at the side at
which the door holding mechanism at the door is set, and at the
opposite side. Further, due to the above-described rotation of the
door with respect to the vehicle body, the vehicle body around the
hinge mounting surfaces is elastically deformed toward the lower
side, more greatly at the side at which the door holding mechanism
is set than at the opposite side. Therefore, the supporting
reaction force at the side at which the door holding mechanism is
set is larger than at the opposite side. Due thereto, the
above-described rotation itself of the door with respect to the
vehicle body is suppressed.
[0012] A top-hinged door structure relating to a second aspect of
the present invention has: a pair of hinges that are provided at
the vehicle body, so as to be apart in a horizontal direction, at
an upper side in a vehicle vertical direction with respect to an
opening portion formed in the vehicle body; a door that is
supported at the vehicle body by the pair of hinges, and that opens
and closes the opening portion by rotating with hinge shafts of the
hinges being fulcra; a door holding mechanism that is provided
between the door and the vehicle body at one end side of the door
in the horizontal direction, and that produces resistance force
against self-weight of the door and maintains a posture in which
the door fully opens the opening portion, and that, due to load
exceeding the resistance force, permits the door being moved in a
direction of closing the opening portion; and a door supporting
structure that is structured such that supporting reaction force,
in the vehicle vertical direction, of a mounting portion of one
hinge that is positioned at a side at which the door holding
mechanism is set among the pair of hinges, is greater than
supporting reaction force, in the vehicle vertical direction, of a
mounting portion of the other hinge.
[0013] In accordance with the above-described aspect, with regard
to the door that rotates with the hinge shafts as fulcra and opens
and closes the opening portion of the vehicle body, the posture of
fully opening the opening portion is maintained by the door holding
mechanism against the self-weight. When load in the closing
direction (toward the bottom of the vehicle) of a predetermined
value or more that exceeds this resistance force is applied to the
door, the door reaches a posture of closing the opening portion
against the resistance force of the door holding mechanism.
[0014] By the way, in a structure in which the door holding
mechanism is provided at only one end side in the horizontal
direction between the vehicle body and the door, due to the
reaction force of the door holding mechanism, it is easy for the
door to be rotated with respect to the vehicle body such that a
portion at the side at which the door holding mechanism at the door
is set is positioned at the lower side, in the vehicle vertical
direction, with respect to the opposite side.
[0015] Here, in the door supporting structure that structures the
top-hinged door structure of the above-described aspect, at the
mounting portion of the hinge that is positioned at the side at
which the door holding mechanism is set among the pair of hinges,
the supporting reaction force in the vehicle vertical direction is
made to be greater than at the mounting portion of the other hinge.
Therefore, at the side at which the door holding mechanism is set,
it is difficult for the door to be displaced toward the lower side
in the vehicle vertical direction, due to the reaction force of the
door holding mechanism. Namely, the above-described rotation of the
door with respect to the vehicle body, that is caused by the door
holding mechanism being provided at only one end side, is
suppressed.
[0016] In this way, in the structure relating to the
above-described aspect, a door can be assembled properly to a
vehicle body in a structure in which a door holding mechanism for
maintaining the door in a fully open posture is provided at only
one end side in the horizontal direction.
[0017] In the above-described aspect, the door holding structure
may be a structure that is structured such that, in the state of
not supporting the door, a mounting surface to which the hinge at
the vehicle body is mounted is positioned further toward the upper
side in the vehicle vertical direction at one hinge side that is
positioned at the side at which the door holding structure is set,
than at the other hinge side.
[0018] In accordance with the above-described aspect, the hinge
mounting surface at the vehicle body is positioned further toward
upper side in the vehicle vertical direction at the side at which
the door holding mechanism is set than at the opposite side. In
other words, the displacement amount (stroke) of the door upper end
portion due to the above-described rotation of the door with
respect to the vehicle body is made to be greater at the side at
which the door holding mechanism is set than at the opposite side.
Due thereto, the vehicle body is elastically deformed toward the
lower side more greatly at the side at which the door holding
mechanism is set than at the opposite side, and therefore, the
supporting reaction force of the door is made to be greater at the
side at which the door holding mechanism is set than at the
opposite side. Moreover, because the side at which the door holding
mechanism is set is positioned at the upper side, positional offset
in the vehicle vertical direction can be kept small at the portion
at the side at which the door holding mechanism at the door is set,
and at the opposite side.
[0019] In the above-described aspect, there may be a structure in
which the respective mounting surfaces are surfaces that face
toward an upper side in the vehicle vertical direction, and the
pair of hinges are fixed to the vehicle body by bolts that
pass-through, in the vehicle vertical direction, a vehicle body
panel that has the mounting surfaces.
[0020] In accordance with the above-described aspect, the hinges
are fixed on the mounting surfaces of the vehicle body by fastening
force in the vehicle vertical direction due to bolts. In this
structure, it is easy for the vehicle body (a sheet metal) to
elastically deform in the vehicle vertical direction (the plate
thickness direction), and therefore, by positioning the mounting
surface to be further toward the upper side in the vehicle vertical
direction at the side at which the door holding mechanism is set
than at the opposite side, assembling the door to the vehicle body
properly is easy.
[0021] In the above-described aspect, the top-hinged door structure
may be a structure that further has a regulating member that is
provided between the vehicle body and a portion, at an opposite
side in the horizontal direction of the side at which the door
holding structure is set, at a lower portion of the door in the
vehicle vertical direction, and that regulates the door, that is in
a posture of closing the opening portion, being displaced in a
direction of closing the opening portion with respect to the
vehicle body.
[0022] In a structure in which a door holding mechanism is provided
at only one end side in the horizontal direction at the door, due
to the reaction force of the door holding mechanism, the door tilts
easily with respect to the vehicle body such that the portion at
the side at which the door holding mechanism at the door is set is
pushed-out toward the vehicle outer side with respect to the
opposite side.
[0023] Here, in accordance with the above-described aspect,
displacement, toward the vehicle body side, of the door that is in
the posture of closing the opening portion is regulated (the door
receives regulating force) by the regulating member at a portion
that is at the opposite side, in the horizontal direction and the
vertical direction, with respect to the portion at which reaction
force from the door holding mechanism is applied. Therefore, a
moment against the above-described tilting of the door arises due
to the regulating force by the regulating member, and tilting of
the door is suppressed.
[0024] A top-hinged door structure relating to a third aspect of
the present invention has a pair of hinges that are provided at the
vehicle body, so as to be apart in a horizontal direction, at an
upper side in a vehicle vertical direction with respect to an
opening portion formed in the vehicle body; a door that is
supported at the vehicle body by the pair of hinges, and that opens
and closes the opening portion by rotating with hinge shafts of the
hinges being fulcra; a door holding mechanism that is provided
between the door and the vehicle body at one end side of the door
in the horizontal direction, and that produces resistance force
against self-weight of the door and maintains a posture in which
the door fully opens the opening portion, and that, due to load
exceeding the resistance force, permits the door being moved in a
direction of closing the opening portion; and a regulating member
that is provided between the vehicle body and a portion, at an
opposite side in the horizontal direction of a side at which the
door holding structure is set, at a lower portion of the door in
the vehicle vertical direction, and that regulates the door, that
is in a posture of closing the opening portion, being displaced in
a direction of closing the opening portion with respect to the
vehicle body.
[0025] In accordance with the above-described aspect, with regard
to the door that rotates with the hinge shafts as fulcra and opens
and closes the opening portion of the vehicle body, the posture of
fully opening the opening portion is maintained by the door holding
mechanism against the self-weight. When load in the closing
direction (toward the bottom of the vehicle) of a predetermined
value or more that exceeds this resistance force is applied to the
door, the door reaches a posture of closing the opening portion
against the resistance force of the door holding mechanism.
[0026] By the way, in a structure in which a door holding mechanism
is provided at only one end side in the horizontal direction at the
door, due to the reaction force of the door holding mechanism, the
door tilts easily with respect to the vehicle body such that the
portion at the side at which the door holding mechanism at the door
is set is pushed-out toward the vehicle outer side with respect to
the opposite side.
[0027] Here, in the top-hinged door structure of the
above-described aspect, the restricting member is provided at the
opposite side of the side at which the door holding mechanism is
set, between the vehicle body and the door. Therefore,
displacement, toward the vehicle body side, of the door that is in
the posture of closing the opening portion is regulated (the door
receives regulating force) by the regulating member at a portion
that is at the opposite side, in the horizontal direction and the
vertical direction, with respect to the portion at which reaction
force from the door holding mechanism is applied. Therefore, a
moment against the above-described tilting of the door with respect
to the vehicle body arises due to the resistance force of the
regulating member, and tilting of the door is suppressed.
[0028] In this way, in the structure relating to the
above-described aspect, a door can be assembled properly to a
vehicle body in a structure in which a door holding mechanism for
maintaining the door in a fully open posture is provided at only
one end side in the horizontal direction.
[0029] In the above-described aspect, the regulating member may be
a structure that, in a state in which the door closes the opening
portion, is disposed so as to be elastically compressed between the
door and the vehicle body.
[0030] In accordance with the above-described aspect, in a posture
of closing the opening portion, the door always contacts the
regulating member, and is nipped-in, in an elastically compressed
state, between the regulating member and the vehicle body.
Therefore, the greater the above-described tilting of the door
becomes, the greater the regulating force against this tilting
becomes. Further, relative displacement (e.g., rattling or the
like) of the door with respect to the vehicle body is
suppressed.
[0031] In the above-described aspect, there may be a structure in
which the door is structured to have a window portion, and at least
a portion of a peripheral edge portion of the window portion is
reinforced with respect to load in the vehicle vertical
direction.
[0032] In accordance with the above-described aspect, the vertical
direction rigidity of the door, at which the peripheral edge
portion of the window portion is reinforced, is improved.
Therefore, due to the reaction force of the door holding mechanism
that is provided at only one side of the opening portion in the
transverse direction, the door itself deforming in the vehicle
vertical direction is suppressed, and positional offset in the
vehicle vertical direction is kept small at the portion at the side
at which the door holding mechanism at the door is set, and at the
opposite side.
[0033] In the above-described aspect, there may be a structure in
which the door holding mechanism is structured by a vehicle body
side member, that is connected to a portion positioned at one end
side in the horizontal direction with respect to the opening
portion at an upper portion of the vehicle body, and a door side
member, that is connected to a same side as a connected side of the
vehicle body side member with respect to the opening portion at the
door, the vehicle body side member and the door side member being
connected so as to be able to extend and contract due to relative
displacement in a mutual longitudinal direction, and the door
holding mechanism is structured so as to generate assisting force
while extending when the door opens the opening portion, and so as
to generate the resistance force while shortening when the door
closes the opening portion.
[0034] In accordance with the above-described aspect, reaction
force, that can cause the door that is closing the opening portion
to have the above-described rotation/tilting of the door with
respect to the vehicle body, is inputted from the door holding
mechanism. However, due to the above-described door holding
mechanism, assembling of the door in a proper posture with respect
to the vehicle body is ensured.
Effects of the Invention
[0035] As described above, the top-hinged door structure relating
to the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to
properly assemble a door to a vehicle body in a structure in which
a door holding mechanism for maintaining the door in a fully open
posture is provided at only one end side in the horizontal
direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1 is a rear view showing an open state of a rear
opening portion at a vehicle to which a back door structure
relating to a first embodiment of the present invention is
applied.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a closed state of the rear
opening portion at the vehicle to which the back door structure
relating to the first embodiment of the present invention is
applied.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 5, showing
a rotation correcting structure that structures the back door
structure relating to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 5, showing
the rotation correcting structure that structures the back door
structure relating to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a rear view schematically showing the rotation
correcting structure that structures the back door structure
relating to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 6 is a side sectional view schematically showing a tilt
correcting structure that structures the back door structure
relating to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining reaction forces
from a damper at the vehicle to which the back door structure
relating to the first embodiment of the present invention is
applied.
[0043] FIG. 8 is a rear view for explaining rotational
displacement, inclined displacement with respect to a vehicle body
of a door due to reaction force from the damper, and resistance
force that suppresses these, at the vehicle to which the back door
structure relating to the first embodiment of the present invention
is applied.
[0044] FIG. 9 is a graph showing, in comparison with a comparative
example, improved effects of fitting a back door due to the back
door structure relating to the first embodiment of the present
invention is applied.
[0045] FIG. 10A is a schematic view in which a structure, before
back door supporting of the rotation correcting structure that
structures the back door structure relating to the first embodiment
of the present invention, is modeled.
[0046] FIG. 10B is a schematic view in which a structure, in a
state of back door supporting of the rotation correcting structure
that structures the back door structure relating to the first
embodiment of the present invention, is modeled.
[0047] FIG. 11 is a sectional view along line 11-11 of FIG. 12,
showing a rotation correcting structure that structures a back door
structure relating to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0048] FIG. 12 is a rear view schematically showing the rotation
correcting structure that structures the back door structure
relating to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0049] FIG. 13 is a sectional view along line 13-13 of FIG. 14,
showing a rotation correcting structure that structures a back door
structure relating to a third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0050] FIG. 14 is a rear view schematically showing the rotation
correcting structure that structures the back door structure
relating to the third embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] FIG. 15 is a sectional view along line 15-15 of FIG. 16,
showing a rotation correcting structure that structures a back door
structure relating to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0052] FIG. 16 is a rear view schematically showing the rotation
correcting structure that structures the back door structure
relating to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] FIG. 17 is a side sectional view schematically showing a
tilt correcting structure that structures a back door structure
relating to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
BEST FORMS FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION
[0054] A back door structure 10, to which a top-hinged door
structure relating to a first embodiment of the present invention
is applied, is described on the basis of FIG. 1 to FIG. 10. Note
that arrow FR shown appropriately in the drawings indicates the
forward direction in the vehicle longitudinal direction, arrow UP
indicates the upward direction in the vehicle vertical direction,
the arrow RH indicates the right side, when looking in the forward
direction, that is one side in the vehicle transverse direction,
and arrow LH indicates the left side that is the opposite direction
of arrow RH, respectively. Further, in the following explanation,
when using the longitudinal, vertical and left/right directions,
the longitudinal direction (vehicle longitudinal direction),
vertical direction, and left/right direction of a vehicle V are
indicated unless specially mentioned.
[0055] The schematic structure of the vehicle V to which the back
door structure 10 is applied is shown in a rear view in FIG. 1. As
shown in this drawing, a rear opening portion 14 that opens
rearward is formed in a vehicle body 12 of the vehicle V. The rear
opening portion 14 is an opening portion for accessing a luggage
compartment 16 that is a space at the rear of the passenger space
(the seats) of the vehicle V. Concretely, the rear opening portion
14 is an opening portion that is substantially rectangular in rear
view, and that is surrounded by a pair of left and right rear
pillars (D pillars) 18, a rear roof header 20, and a rear bumper 22
(an unillustrated lower back panel).
[0056] The rear opening portion 14 is opened and closed by a back
door 24 that is an example of the door in the present invention. A
back window 24A serving as a window portion is formed in the upper
portion of the back door 24,and the back window 24A is closed by a
back window glass 25. The back door 24 is supported with respect to
the vehicle body 12 so as to be rotatable around hinge shafts 30
that run along the vehicle transverse direction, via a pair of left
and right door hinges 26, 28 that are provided at the rear roof
header 20.
[0057] Concretely, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the door hinges
26, 28 are structured with the main portions thereof being hinge
brackets 32, at which the respective hinge shafts 30 are provided,
and hinge arms 34, that are supported so as rotate freely around
the hinge shafts 30 with respect to the hinge brackets 32. The
hinge brackets 32 are fixed to the vehicle body 12 by being
fastened to the top surface of the rear roof header 20 that is
structured by a main body panel, by bolts 36, that are passed
through the rear roof header 20 in the vertical direction, and nuts
38. The hinge arms 34 are joined to the upper end portion of the
back door 24 by unillustrated joining means (e.g., bolts,
nuts).
[0058] Due thereto, the back door 24 is structured so as to be able
to, by rotation around the hinge shafts 30, assume a fully open
position at which the back door 24 fully opens the rear opening
portion 14 as shown in FIG. 1, and a fully closed position, at
which the back door 24 fully closes the rear opening portion 14 as
shown in FIG. 2. Note that, as shown in FIG. 5 as well, a shim 39
structured from a synthetic rubber or the like, is interposed
between the rear roof header 20 and each hinge bracket 32.
[0059] Further, a damper 40 serving as a door holding mechanism is
provided between the vehicle body 12 and the back door 24. The
damper 40 has a cylinder 42 serving as a vehicle body side member,
and a rod 44 serving as a door side member that is inserted in the
cylinder 42 so as to be able to advance and withdraw, and the
damper 40 is structured as a door holding structure that extends
and contracts accompanying the advancing and withdrawing of the rod
44 with respect to the cylinder 42. The damper 40 is a structure at
which resistance force is generated accompanying the shortening, by
an unillustrated piston provided within the cylinder 42 and gas
that is sealed within the cylinder 42. In this embodiment, the
damper 40 is a structure that, when restraint toward the shortened
state is cancelled, generates assisting force in the extending
direction. Because the concrete structure of the damper 40 is
publicly known, description thereof is omitted.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 1, at the damper 40, one end 42A of the
cylinder 42 is connected to the upper portion of the vehicle body
12 so as to be able to be angularly displaced relatively, and one
end 44A of the rod 44 is connected to the vertical direction
intermediate portion of the back door 24 so as to be able to be
angularly displaced relatively. The damper 40 is a structure that,
in the extended state thereof, maintains the back door 24 in a
fully open state against (the moment in the closing direction due
to) the self-weight of the back door 24, by the aforementioned
resistance force.
[0061] On the other hand, when downwardly-directed external force
is applied to the back door 24 and a load in the shortening
direction that exceeds the aforementioned resistance force is
applied, the damper 40, while being shortened, permits movement of
the back door 24 toward the fully closed posture side. In the fully
closed posture shown in FIG. 2, the damper 40 is in the shortened
state. Moreover, the damper 40 is a structure that, when the back
door 24 is moved from the fully closed posture to the fully open
posture side, generates the aforementioned assisting force while
extending. Therefore, the damper 40 applies load even to the back
door 24 in the fully closed posture, as is described below.
[0062] Further, at the back door structure 10, only the one damper
40 is provided. In this embodiment, the single damper 40 is
disposed at the right side (the outer side in the vehicle
transverse direction that is the horizontal direction) with respect
to the rear opening portion 14. Concretely, the one end 42A of the
cylinder 42 is connected to the rear pillar 18 at the right side,
and the one end 44A of the rod 44 is connected to the right side
portion with respect to the back window 24A at the back door
24.
[0063] Therefore, at the back door structure 10, the load from the
damper 40, that is applied to the back door 24 in the
above-described fully closed posture, has left/right asymmetry.
Concretely, at the right end portion of the back door 24,
downwardly-directed load Fd is applied from the damper 40 as shown
in FIG. 7. Further, as shown in this FIG. 7, in the fully closed
posture of the back door 24, the damper 40 is disposed at an
incline such that the lower end (the one end 44A of the rod 44) is
positioned further toward the vehicle rear side than the upper end
(the one end 42A of the cylinder 42). Therefore,
rearwardly-directed load Fb is applied from the damper 40 at the
right end portion of the back door 24.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 8, due to the load Fd, the back door 24 is
a structure that generates rotational displacement (refer to arrow
A) such that the right side portion of the back door 24 is
displaced relatively downward and the left side portion is
displaced relatively upward. Further, due to the load Fb, the back
door 24 is a structure that generates inclined displacement (refer
to arrows B) such that the right side portion of the back door 24
is displaced relatively rearward and the left side portion is
displaced relatively forward.
[0065] Here, the back door structure 10 has a door supporting
structure 45. The door supporting structure 45 can be understood to
be a structure that corrects the posture of the back door 24 with
respect to the vehicle body 12 on the basis of a case in which the
back door 24 generates the aforementioned rotational displacement
and inclined displacement with respect to the vehicle body 12 when
this door supporting structure 45 is not provided. Concrete
description is given hereinafter.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 5, the door supporting structure 45
includes a rotation correcting structure 46 that differs the
vertical direction heights of mounting surfaces 20L, 20R of the
left and right door hinge 26, 28 at the rear roof header 20 in a
state of not supporting the back door 24. At the rotation
correcting structure 46, the mounting surface 20R at the right side
at which the damper 40 is disposed is offset toward the upper side
with respect to the mounting surface 20L at the left side at which
the damper 40 is not provided. Namely, at the back door structure
10, in a state of not supporting the back door 24, the hinge shaft
30 at the right side is offset further toward the upper side than
the hinge shaft 30 at the left side.
[0067] As can be understood by comparing FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the
mounting surface 20L is the top surface of a protruding portion 20A
that protrudes at a sheet metal that structures the rear roof
header 20, and is offset toward the upper side with respect to the
mounting surface 20R that is the general surface of the sheet metal
that structures the rear roof header 20. The function of this
rotation correcting structure 46 is described below together with
the operation of the first embodiment.
[0068] Further, the door supporting structure 45 includes a tilt
correcting structure 48. The tilt correcting structure 48 is
structured by interposing a stopper 50 for fitting adjustment, at
the lower left portion between the back door 24 that is in the
fully closed posture and the vehicle body 12. Namely, the tilt
correcting structure 48 is structured by disposing the stopper 50,
that serves as a regulating member, at the opposite side in the
vertical direction and the left/right (horizontal direction) with
respect to the side at which the damper 40 is set (at a position
that forms a substantial diagonal with respect to the position at
which the damper 40 is set).
[0069] The stopper 50 in this embodiment is provided so as to
project rearward as shown in FIG. 6, at a position that overlaps
the lower left portion of the back door 24 in the fully closed
posture in rear view at the lower portion of the rear pillar 18 at
the left side (a vicinity of the boundary with the lower back
panel) as shown in FIG. 1. More concretely, the stopper 50 is
formed in a cylindrical shape of, for example, a rubber material or
the like, and the front end side thereof is held at the
aforementioned rear pillar 18 at the left side, and the rear end
side is a free end.
[0070] The stopper 50 is a structure that, by being interposed, in
a state of being elastically compressed in the longitudinal
direction, between the back door 24 in the fully closed posture and
the rear pillar 18, regulates forward displacement of the back door
24 relative to the vehicle body 12 at this interposed portion. What
is shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 6 is the stopper 50 in the
free state. Namely, the tilt correcting structure 48 is structured
by the stopper 50 being provided by lapping design in which the
space occupied by the stopper 50 in the free state and the space
occupied by the back door 24 in the fully closed posture are
lapped.
[0071] Accordingly, the stopper 50 that structures the tilt
correcting structure 48 (the door supporting structure 45) is
structured as a member that is separate from an unillustrated
stopper for preventing strong closing that is for regulating the
back door 24 exceeding the fully closed position and approaching
the vehicle body 12. Further, the stopper 50 is structured of a
material that is soft as compared with the stopper for preventing
strong closing.
[0072] Further, in this embodiment, the projected amount of the
stopper 50 with respect to the vehicle body 12 (the lapped amount
with the back door 24) can be adjusted. Concretely, a male screw
portion 50A is formed at the front end side of the stopper 50, and
this male screw portion 50A is screwed-together with a screw hole
52 formed in the rear pillar 18. Accordingly, there is a structure
in which, by rotating the stopper 50 around its own axis, the
projected amount of the stopper 50 with respect to the vehicle body
12 can be adjusted.
[0073] Moreover, in the door supporting structure 45 in this
embodiment, (the opening flange formed along) the peripheral edge
portion of the back window 24A at the back door 24 is reinforced.
Reinforced ranges 24RF in this embodiment are shown by the
imaginary lines in FIG. 2. A structure that increases the adhesive
strength between the back door 24 and the back window glass 25 that
shields the back window 24A is employed as this reinforcing
structure. In this embodiment, the peripheral edge portion of the
back window 24A at the back door 24 is reinforced by employing a
urethane adhesive (elastic coefficient after hardening 0.8 MPa)
having higher strength than a usual urethane adhesive (elastic
coefficient after hardening 0.1 MPa). Note that the high-strength
urethane adhesive may be used over the entire periphery of the back
window 24A, or may be used at only the edge portions that run along
the vertical direction of the back window 24A at the back door
24.
[0074] Operation of the present embodiment is described next.
[0075] In the back door structure 10 of the above-described
structure, when the rear opening portion 14 is opened, the latched
state of the back door 24 by an unillustrated striker and latch
mechanism is cancelled. Thus, the back door 24, whose restraining
by the striker and the latch mechanism has been cancelled, is moved
to the fully open position by the assisting force that accompanies
the extending of the damper 40 and the light operational force of
the user. The (moment in the horizontal direction that is based on
the) self-weight of the back door 24 in the fully open posture is
supported by the resistance force of the damper 40, and the back
door 24 is held in this fully open posture.
[0076] On the other hand, when closing the rear opening portion 14,
the lower portion of the back door 24 (the rear portion of the
fully open posture) is pushed downward against the resistance force
of the damper 40. Then, the back door 24 is rotated downward around
the hinge shafts 30 while the damper 40 is shortened, and, when the
back door 24 reaches the fully closed position, the back door 24 is
latched by the striker and the latch mechanism. In this state, the
stopper 50 is compressed between the back door 24 and the rear
pillar 18.
[0077] By the way, in the back door structure 10 in which the
single damper 40 connects the vehicle body 12 and the back door 24
at a vehicle transverse direction one end side as described above,
rotational displacement in the arrow A direction due to the load
Fd, and inclined displacement in the arrow B direction due to the
load Fb, arise as described above. Therefore, in a comparative
example that does not have the door supporting structure 45 (the
door supporting structure 45 and the tilt correcting structure 48),
the back door 24 is rotated in the arrow A direction and is
assembled to the vehicle body at a posture that is tilted in the
arrow B direction, as compared with proper fitting (assembly
posture) of the back door 24 with respect to the vehicle body
12.
[0078] Concretely, as shown in FIG. 9, in a comparative example
that is shown by the black plots, it can be understood that the
upper end, the lower end of the back door 24 are displaced more
greatly downward toward the right side (the side at which the
damper 40 is set), due to the rotational displacement in the arrow
A direction. Namely, it can be understood that, in the comparative
example, at both the upper end, the lower end of the back door 24,
the positional differences in the vertical direction between the
respective right ends and the left ends thereof are large, and, at
the right end sides, the differences with respect to the reference
position (displacement 0) are large. Further, the vertical
positional difference between the left and the right being greater
at the lower end than at the upper end of the back door 24 is a
cause of downward deformation of the back door 24 itself.
[0079] Further, it can be understood that, in this comparative
example, the right end of the back door 24 is greatly displaced
rearward from the reference position (displacement 0) due to the
inclined displacement in the arrow B direction. Further, it can be
understood that, due to the inclined displacement in the arrow B
direction, the right end, the left end of the back door 24 both are
displaced greatly toward the left side in the vehicle transverse
direction.
[0080] In contrast, in the back door structure 10 having the
rotation correcting structure 46, as shown in FIG. 9, the
displacement in the vertical direction of the upper end, the lower
end of the back door 24 due to the rotational displacement in the
arrow A direction is suppressed as compared with the
above-described comparative example. Namely, in the rotation
correcting structure 46, in a state before supporting the back door
24, the mounting surface 20R at the right side (the side at which
the damper 40 is set) is positioned at the upper side with respect
to the mounting surface 20L at the left side. Therefore, the right
side of the back door 24 is displaced more greatly downward than
the left side, by an amount corresponding to at least a portion
(.DELTA.H) of the positional difference in the vertical direction
between the mounting surface 20L and the mounting surface 20R
accompanying the rotation in the arrow A direction. Accordingly,
the left/right displacement difference at the upper end, the lower
end of the back door 24 is shortened, as compared with the
above-described comparative example, by an amount corresponding to
at least a portion of the left/right displacement difference
.DELTA.H.
[0081] Moreover, because the back door 24 greatly deforms the
mounting surface 20R side of the rear roof header 20 by an amount
corresponding to the aforementioned .DELTA.H with respect to the
mounting surface 20L side, the supporting reaction force from the
vehicle body is greater at the right side than at the left side.
Concretely, as schematically shown in FIG. 10A, it can be modeled
as a structure in which the mounting surface 20L (the door hinge
26), the mounting surface 20R (the door hinge 28) of the rear roof
header 20 are respectively supported by springs S1, Sr having a
spring constant K and a natural length L, and the mounting surface
20R is offset upward with respect to the mounting surface 20L. As
shown in FIG. 10B, given that the deformation amount of the spring
S1 at the left side in a state of supporting the back door 24 is HI
and the deformation amount of the spring Sr at the right side is
Hr(=H1+.DELTA.H), supporting reaction force R1 at the spring S1
side is R1=K.times.H1, and supporting reaction force Rr at the
spring Sr side is Rr=K.times.Hr.
[0082] Due thereto, at the back door structure 10, the supporting
reaction force Rr from the hinge 28 at the right side is made to be
larger by an amount corresponding to .DELTA.R=K.times..DELTA.H than
the supporting reaction force R1 from the door hinge 26 at the left
side, and rotation itself of the back door 24 in the arrow A
direction is suppressed. Namely, on the basis of this reaction
force difference, as shown in FIG. 8, a moment Ma in the direction
opposite arrow A arises, and rotation of the back door 24 in the
arrow A direction is suppressed by this moment Ma.
[0083] For these reasons, at the back door structure 10, as
described above, displacement in the vertical direction of the
upper end, the lower end of the back door 24 due to rotational
displacement in the arrow A direction is suppressed.
[0084] Further, in the back door structure 10, the door supporting
structure 45 has a reinforcing structure of the opening flange of
the back window 24A peripheral edge at the back door 24. Therefore,
the right side portion deforming downward due to the
downwardly-directed load Fd from the damper 40 is suppressed at the
back door 24. Due thereto, as can be understood from a comparison
of the deformation amounts in the vertical direction of the upper
end side and the lower end side shown in FIG. 9, a significant
difference is not recognized in the left/right deformation amount
differences at the upper end and the lower end of the back door
24.
[0085] Moreover, in the back door structure 10 that has the tilt
correcting structure 48, as compared with the above-described
comparative example shown in FIG. 9, displacement in the
longitudinal direction of the left end, the right end of the back
door 24 due to tilting displacement in the arrow 13 direction is
suppressed. Namely, at the tilt correcting structure 48, the
stopper 50 is provided at the side opposite the side at which the
damper 40, that pushes the back door 24 rearward by the load Fb, is
set, and, because this stopper 50 is interposed in a compressively
deformed state between the back door 24 in the fully closed posture
and the vehicle body 12, a moment Mb (see FIG. 8) in the opposite
direction as the arrow B direction arises on the basis of the
rearwardly-directed restoring force of the stopper 50. Tilting of
the back door 24 in the arrow B direction is suppressed by this
moment Mb.
[0086] Due thereto, as shown in FIG. 9, in the back door structure
10, displacement of the right end of the back door 24 toward the
rear is markedly suppressed and the top/bottom displacement
difference also is reduced as compared with the above-described
comparative example. Further, the displacement of the back door 24
in the vehicle transverse direction also is suppressed as compared
with the above-described comparative example.
[0087] Due to the above, in the back door structure 10 relating to
the first embodiment, in a structure having the single damper 40,
the back door 24 can be assembled (set in a well fitted state) to
the vehicle body 12 properly (within the allowable range). At the
vehicle V to which the back door structure 10 is applied, the back
door 24 can be assembled to the vehicle body 12 by fitting that is
the same as a vehicle that has a left and right pair of the dampers
40. In this way, in the vehicle V to which the back door structure
10 is applied, as compared with a vehicle that has a left and right
pair of the dampers 40, the same fitting can be obtained by
providing the stopper 50 instead of one of the dampers 40, and
therefore, a decrease in costs can be realized while the quality of
fitting of the back door 24 is ensured.
[0088] Moreover, in the back door structure 10, the mounting
surface 20R is made to be a structure that is offset upward with
respect to the mounting surface 20L, and there is a structure in
which a positional difference between these in the vertical
direction is set. Therefore, the left and right door hinges 26, 28
can be made to be common parts, and further, the left and right
shims 39 can be used in common, which contributes to a further
decrease in costs.
[0089] Further, in the back door structure 10, the stopper 50, that
is formed of a soft material and is provided by lapping design,
always contacts the back door 24 that is in the fully closed
posture, and therefore, rattling of the lower end portion of the
back door 24 with respect to the vehicle body 12 is suppressed.
Accordingly, vibration, noise that are caused by rattling of the
back door 24 are suppressed. Namely, while the quality of fitting
of the back door 24 with respect to the vehicle body 12 is ensured,
suppression of vibration, noise can be realized, which contributes
to an improvement in the strength as a commodity of the vehicle
V.
[0090] Moreover, by adjusting the screwed-together position of the
male screw portion 50A with the screw hole 52, the projecting
amount of the stopper 50 from the vehicle body can be adjusted in
accordance with, for example, dispersion in the dimensional
accuracies of the vehicle body 12 and the back door 24, or the
like. Further, the stopper 50 can also be used in common in
different types of vehicles.
[0091] Note that the first embodiment illustrates an example in
which, by setting the mounting surface 20R at the protruding
portion 20A of the rear roof header 20, the mounting surface 20R is
offset upward with respect to the mounting surface 20L, but the
present invention is not limited to this, and, for example, may be
a structure in which the mounting surface 20R is offset upward with
respect to the mounting surface 20L by, for example, setting the
mounting surface 20L in a recess formed in the rear roof header
20.
Other Embodiments
[0092] Other embodiments of the present invention are described
next. Note that parts and portions that are basically the same as
structures of the above first embodiment or that were previously
described are denoted by the same reference numerals as the
structures of the above first embodiment or that were previously
described, and description thereof is omitted.
Second Embodiment
[0093] A back door structure 60, to which a top-hinged door
structure relating to a second embodiment of the present invention
is applied, is shown in FIG. 11 in a side sectional view
corresponding to FIG. 3. As shown in this drawing, the back door
structure 60 is structured such that the door supporting structure
45 thereof has a rotation correcting structure 62 instead of the
rotation correcting structure 46. The rotation correcting structure
62 is structured such that the mounting surface 20R is made to be
the general surface of the rear roof header 20 in the same way as
the mounting surface 20L, and so as to have a shim 64 instead of
the shim 39.
[0094] The shim 64 is thicker-walled than the shim 39, and, due to
the wall thickness with the shim 39, a positional difference in the
vertical direction between (the respective hinge shafts 30 of) the
door hinge 26 and the door hinge 28 in a state of not supporting
the back door 24 is created as shown in FIG. 12. Further, the shim
64 has rigidity (a spring constant) that is the same as or greater
than that of the shim 39, and, accompanying the assembly of the
back door 24, is compressively deformed more greatly than the shim
39. The other structures at the back door structure 60, including
the portions that are not illustrated, are basically the same as
the corresponding structures of the back door structure 10 relating
to the first embodiment.
[0095] Accordingly, due to the back door structure 60 relating to
the second embodiment as well, operation and effects that are
basically similar to the back door structure 10 are exhibited. Note
that, in the back door structure 60, structures, in which the
rigidity of the shim 64 is set to be low or the like and the
operation and effects due to the deformation amount difference
.DELTA.H in the vertical direction between the shim 64 and the shim
39 generating the moment Ma are not exhibited or such effects are
small, also are included in the present invention.
Third Embodiment
[0096] A back door structure 70, to which a top-hinged door
structure relating to a third embodiment of the present invention
is applied, is shown in FIG. 13 in a side sectional view
corresponding to FIG. 3. As shown in this drawing, the back door
structure 70 is structured such that the door supporting structure
45 thereof has a rotation correcting structure 72 instead of the
rotation correcting structure 46. The rotation correcting structure
72 is structured such that the mounting surface 20R is made to be
the general surface of the rear roof header 20 in the same way as
the mounting surface 20L, and such that the door hinge 28 has,
instead of the hinge bracket 32, a hinge bracket 74 that is
vertically taller than that.
[0097] Namely, as shown in FIG. 14 as well, the hinge bracket 74
that structures the door hinge 28 is a structure in which the
height from the general surface of the rear roof header 20, i.e.,
the mounting surfaces 20L, 20R, to the hinge shaft 30 is high as
compared with the hinge bracket 32 of the door hinge 26. Due
thereto, in the back door structure 70, the hinge bracket 74
creates a positional difference in the vertical direction between
(the respective hinge shafts 30 of) the door hinge 26 and the door
hinge 28 in a state of not supporting the back door 24. The other
structures at the back door structure 70, including the portions
that are not illustrated, are basically the same as the
corresponding structures of the back door structure 10 relating to
the first embodiment.
[0098] Accordingly, due to the back door structure 70 relating to
the third embodiment as well, operation and effects that are
basically similar to the back door structure 10 are exhibited.
Fourth Embodiment
[0099] A back door structure 80, to which a top-hinged door
structure relating to a fourth embodiment of the present invention
is applied, is shown in FIG. 15 in a side sectional view
corresponding to FIG. 3. As shown in this drawing, the back door
structure 80 is structured such that the door supporting structure
45 thereof has a rotation correcting structure 82 instead of the
rotation correcting structure 46. The rotation correcting structure
82 is structured such that the mounting surface 20R is made to be
the general surface of the rear roof header 20 in the same way as
the mounting surface 20L, and so as to have a shim 84 instead of
the shim 39.
[0100] The shim 84 is formed of, for example, a metal material or
the like, and has higher rigidity than the shim 39 that is formed
of a synthetic resin or the like. In this embodiment, the thickness
of the shim 84 is equivalent to the thickness of the shim 39. The
other structures at the back door structure 80, including the
portions that are not illustrated, are basically the same as the
corresponding structures of the back door structure 10 relating to
the first embodiment.
[0101] Accordingly, due to the back door structure 80 relating to
the fourth embodiment as well, operation and effects that are
basically similar to the back door structure 10 are exhibited. To
supplement this point, at the back door structure 80, the
difference in rigidities (ease of deformation) of the left and
right shims 39, 82 corresponds to the positional difference in the
vertical direction between the mounting surface 20L and the
mounting surface 20R at the back door structure 10. Namely, in the
back door structure 80, accompanying the rotational displacement of
the back door 24 in the arrow A direction, the rear roof header 20
is deformed more greatly at the right side (the side at which the
damper is set 40) than at the left side, by an amount corresponding
to the difference in the deformation amounts of the left and right
shims 39, 82, and the supporting reaction force at the right side
becomes large, and the aforementioned rotational displacement of
the back door 24 is suppressed. On the other hand, because the shim
39 is compressively deformed more greatly than the shim 84, the
left/right difference in vertical direction displacement of the
back door 24 is suppressed.
Fifth Embodiment
[0102] A back door structure 90, to which a top-hinged door
structure relating to a fifth embodiment of the present invention
is applied, is shown in FIG. 17 in a side sectional view
corresponding to FIG. 6. As shown in this drawing, the back door
structure 90 is structured such that the door supporting structure
45 thereof has a tilt correcting structure 92 instead of the tilt
correcting structure 48. The tilt correcting structure 92 is
structured such that the stopper 50 is mounted to the back door 24
instead of the rear pillar 18 (the vehicle body 12).
[0103] Due to the stopper 50 that structures the tilt correcting
structure 92 being screwed-together with the screw hole 52 that is
formed in the back door 24, the stopper 50 is mounted so the back
door 24 side such that the amount of projection toward the vehicle
body 12 side can be adjusted. Although not illustrated, the set
position of the stopper 50 at the tilt correcting structure 92 as
seen in rear view is the same as the set position of the stopper 50
at the back door structure 10 (60, 70, 80) as seen in rear view.
The other structures at the back door structure 90, including the
portions that are not illustrated, are basically the same as the
corresponding structures of the back door structure 10 relating to
the first embodiment.
[0104] Accordingly, due to the back door structure 90 relating to
the fifth embodiment as well, operation and effects that are
basically similar to the back door structure 10 are exhibited.
[0105] Note that the above-described respective embodiments
illustrate examples in which the door supporting structure 45 has
both the rotation correcting structure 46, 62, 72, 82 and the tilt
correcting structure 48, 92, but the present invention is not
limited to this, and may be structured so as to have, for example,
either one of the rotation correcting structure 46, 62, 72, 82 and
the tilt correcting structure 48, 92.
[0106] Further, the above-described respective embodiments
illustrate examples in which the peripheral edge portion of the
back window 24A at the back door 24 is reinforced, but the present
invention is not limited to this, and may be structured such that,
for example, the peripheral edge portion of the back window 24A at
the back door 24 is not reinforced. Further, instead of a
reinforcing structure by an adhesive, there may be a structure in
which the peripheral edge portion of the back window 24A at the
back door 24 is reinforced by increasing the plate thickness of the
opening flange of the peripheral edge of the back window 24A, or
joining a reinforcing ember.
[0107] Moreover, the above-described embodiments illustrate
examples in which the damper 40 is disposed at the right side of
the vehicle body 12, the back door 24, but the present invention is
not limited to this, and may be structured such that, for example,
the damper 40 is disposed at the left side of the vehicle body 12,
the back door 24.
[0108] Further, the above-described embodiments illustrate examples
in which the damper 40 that is a gas damper is used as the door
holding mechanism, but the present invention is not limited to
this, and for example, a damper in which a liquid (oil) is sealed
instead of gas or in addition to gas may be used as the door
holding mechanism, or, for example, a combination of a damper and a
link mechanism or the like may be used as the door holding
mechanism.
[0109] Still further, the above-described embodiments illustrate
examples in which the male screw portion 50A is formed at the
stopper 50, and the amount of projection of the stopper 50 toward
the back door 24 side (or the vehicle body 12 side) can be
adjusted, but the present invention is not limited to this, and,
for example, may be structured such that the stopper 50 is fixed to
the vehicle body 12 or the back door 24.
[0110] Moreover, the above-described embodiments illustrate
examples in which the top-hinged door structure relating to the
present invention is applied to the back door structure 10, 60, 70,
80, 90, but, for example, the present invention may be applied to a
gull-wing-type side door that rotates around a hinge shaft running
along the longitudinal direction and opens and closes an opening
portion that is a passenger entrance/exit.
[0111] Still further, the above-described embodiments illustrate
examples in which the door hinge 26, the door hinge 28 are fixed to
the rear roof header 20 by bolts 36 that vertically pass-through
the mounting surfaces 20L, 20R that are surfaces that face toward
the upper side, but the present invention is not limited to this,
and may be structured, for example, such that the door hinge 26,
the door hinge 28 are fixed to the rear roof header 20 by bolts 36
that longitudinally pass-through the mounting surfaces 20L, 20R
that are surfaces that face rearward.
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